ERG criticises Sunak’s Brexit deal – but could still back it

What scale of rebellion will Rishi Sunak face on his Brexit deal? There had been hopes in Downing Street and the whips’ office that this could be in single figures when the deal is put to a vote tomorrow.

However, the DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said his party – all eight MPs – will vote against (notably, the Ulster Unionist party today described it as ‘an important stepping stone’), leading to concerns that Tory Brexiteers could follow suit. Today, the European Research Group (ERG) met to discuss its ‘Star Chamber’s’ legal findings – and it doesn’t make for pretty reading for the Prime Minister.

The group – led by chairman Mark Francois – accused Sunak of promising more than the Windsor Framework really offers. Speaking after the meeting, Francois spoke of the 30-strong group’s key criticisms which include a fear that the Stormont brake (the aspect MPs are being asked to vote on), meant to provide a mechanism for Stormont and the UK government to say no to new EU single market rules, is ‘practically useless’.